Scientific Illiteracy and the Partisan Takeover of Biology

National Center for Science Education ^ | 18 April 2006 | Staff

[PatrickHenry]

A new article in PLoS Biology (April 18, 2006) discusses the state of scientific literacy in the United States, with especial attention to the survey research of Jon D. Miller, who directs the Center for Biomedical Communications at Northwestern University Medical School.

To measure public acceptance of the concept of evolution, Miller has been asking adults if "human beings, as we know them, developed from earlier species of animals" since 1985. He and his colleagues purposefully avoid using the now politically charged word "evolution" in order to determine whether people accept the basics of evolutionary theory. Over the past 20 years, the proportion of Americans who reject this concept has declined (from 48% to 39%), as has the proportion who accept it (45% to 40%). Confusion, on the other hand, has increased considerably, with those expressing uncertainty increasing from 7% in 1985 to 21% in 2005.

In international surveys, the article reports, "[n]o other country has so many people who are absolutely committed to rejecting the concept of evolution," quoting Miller as saying, "We are truly out on a limb by ourselves."

The "partisan takeover" of the title refers to the embrace of antievolutionism by what the article describes as "the right-wing fundamentalist faction of the Republican Party," noting, "In the 1990s, the state Republican platforms in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Missouri, and Texas all included demands for teaching creation science." NCSE is currently aware of eight state Republican parties that have antievolutionism embedded in their official platforms or policies: those of Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas. Four of them -- those of Alaska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas -- call for teaching forms of creationism in addition to evolution; the remaining three call only for referring the decision whether to teach such "alternatives" to local school districts.

A sidebar to the article, entitled "Evolution under Attack," discusses the role of NCSE and its executive director Eugenie C. Scott in defending the teaching of evolution. Scott explained the current spate of antievolution activity as due in part to the rise of state science standards: "for the first time in many states, school districts are faced with the prospect of needing to teach evolution. ... If you don't want evolution to be taught, you need to attack the standards." Commenting on the decision in Kitzmiller v. Dover [Kitzmiller et al. v Dover Area School District et al.], Scott told PLoS Biology, "Intelligent design may be dead as a legal strategy but that does not mean it is dead as a popular social movement," urging and educators to continue to resist to the onslaught of the antievolution movement. "It's got legs," she quipped. "It will evolve."

[Ichneumon]

You are so totally dishonest, that is what boggles the mind.

Where, exactly, was I "so totally dishonest"? Be specific, or retract your false slander. Or heck, go ahead and let it stand, as a monument to your lack of honor.

The same argument you just used regarding Miami and Kansas City can also be applied to the relationship between chimp and man in the amino acid chain as well.

Sure, one *could* use your silly line of reasoning in that manner, but only if one wanted to be as dishonest as you were when you used a ludicrously invalid "method" to come up with your false and moronic claim that "there is only a 3% difference between a man and an ear of corn"... (Speaking of which, when *are* you going to retract that goofy assertion, or at least admit you erred?)

But biologists aren't as incompetent/dishonest as the average anti-evolutionist, and thus they use straightforward and *valid* methods like DIRECT COMPARISON to determine the level of DNA similarity between chimp and man, not by the sort of goofy sleight-of-hand *you* used to make your FALSE claim about man and corn.

To claim such a kinship between man and chimp is as far fetched as claiming a kinship between man and and ear of corn.

...only to people too grossly ignorant of DNA comparison methods to understand how the comparisons are actually done, and how its findings overwhelmingly support "such a kinship between man and chimp", in multiple independently cross-validating ways...

To deny that these percentages cause huge differences between funi, plant, animal, is just more flim flam.

Where in the hell did you hallucinate that anyone had claimed that DNA differences aren't the cause of the huge differences between "funi [sic], plant, animal"? Mistake your fantasies for reality much? You've certainly done it a lot on *this* thread, anyway.

[betty boop]

The word seems to have entered into English between 1300 and 1350.

Can I get a cite here, Doc? Meanwhile, I'll track down mine. :^)

Just a friendly little to-and-fro here, dear friend.

[RunningWolf]

//If only you would post some skull pics, then mock a few Creationists.. They just might love you again//

LMAO!! because its so true, maybe toss in a few fsm graphic for good effect too.

Wolf

[Ichneumon]

Examination? Examination?

What, are you unfamiliar with the word?

OK....Let's examine the last 1/2 of the lead post. Should government be in the business of shoving either evolution or ID down the throats of resistant children?

Schools should teach science. Evolution is a vital part of biological science. That remains the case whether "government" is in the schooling business or not, so your one-trick-ponyism is beside the point and getting tiresome.

As for "shoving" anything "down the throats of resistant children", what the kids want or "resist" is beside the point -- left to their own wants and desires, few would spend any time in school at all. As adults, we have a responsibility to teach children the knowledge necessary to get by in the modern world, whether they "resist" it or not. For that matter I've seen far more children "resisting" math class than science class.

Should Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas even be voting on matters that offend freedom of conscience or that will have non-neutral religious consequences for many of the students?

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but being exposed to information that might have "non-neutral religious consequences" is hardly a violation of the First Amendment, as you have repeatedly stated in other posts. You have no right to be not exposed to information that might in some manner cause you to ponder some religious point. The Taliban believed that, and tried to enforce it, but I would hope that no American would be so similarly closed-minded or horrified at being exposed to ideas new to him.

If you examine this, you will need to conclude that government schools must be abolished and that the only solution to these continuing curriculum wars is vouchers, tax credits, and eventual complete separation of school and state.

No, I will not "need to conclude" that based on the realization that people in schools (private OR public) will be exposed to new ideas. Nor am I as horrified of that prospect as you seem to be.

[betty boop]

You are so very kind, wintertime. Keep the faith my friend.

[Coyoteman]

//If only you would post some skull pics...

This is one of my favorites; studied her for hours in grad school (now she's a he; who wudda thunk it!).

Enjoy!

---

Fossil: Sts 5 Site: Sterkfontein Cave, South Africa (1)

Discovered By: R. Broom & J. Robinson 1947 (1)

Estimated Age of Fossil: 2.5 mya * determined by Stratigraphic, floral & faunal data (1, 4)

Species Name: Australopithecus africanus (1, 2)

Gender: Male (based on CAT scan of wisdom teeth roots) (1, 30) Female (original interpretation) (4)

Cranial Capacity: 485 cc (2, 4)

Information: No tools found in same layer (4)

Interpretation: Erect posture (based on forward facing foramen magnum) (8)

Nickname: Mrs. Ples (1)

See original source for notes:
http://www.mos.org/evolution/fossils/fossilview.php?fid=24

[labette]

Would like to stay and play, but we have some rough weather coming in.
Battening down the hatches.

[Ichneumon]

He opposes the forced indoctrination of students with government money.

Fine, good for him.

Or is there some error in wintertime's science?

Actually, the point is that to wintertime, the science doesn't matter at all. Thus the widespread skepticism he's the "evolutionist" he claims he is.

It's like being someone who claims that election results don't matter to him, but then speaks of his "fellow Republicans"... ...and then calls his "fellow Republicans" names while making conciliatory comments to the Democrats, etc., while never spontaneously promoting or defending Republican positions...

Wouldn't that raise red flags in *your* mind?

[Ichneumon]

And,,,yes,,,,I do consider my evolutionists, who do not speak out against this abuse, bullies.

No matter how many times you declare it and stamp your feet, teaching science in science class is not "abuse".

[Virginia-American]

I think my fellow evolutionists are bullies.

Hmmm, so one could say that you're an anti-anti-creationist?

[Doctor Stochastic]

Random House Dictionary

[Doctor Stochastic]

Also this link.

[Liberal Classic]

Schools should teach science. Evolution is a vital part of biological science. That remains the case whether "government" is in the schooling business or not...

What a controversial position!

Being a libertarian nut-job (TM), I'm highly supportive of homeschooling and private schools, and open to ideas such as voucher plans, public schools charging tuition, and even privatization. When it comes to the public policy issue of privatizing public education, the makeup of life science and earth science curricula is not even on the radar. The "compelled speech" argument against the teaching of evolution in the schools goes far beyond any multi-cultural sensitivity argument I have ever heard from the political left.

I plan to homeschool my children. In fact, I may have to do so for a period of time, if my wife and I adopt from overseas as we are planning. When I do, I intent to teach them as much science and math as they can stand, and that includes evolutionary theory.

[Virginia-American]

Regarding "one trick pony": This is a personal insult.

Would you prefer, "tunnel-visioned"?

I heard somewhere that "obsessed" was word of the month.

[Alamo-Girl]

The Bill of Rights fortifies the just claims of human beings against the claims of government. But for the political Left, the state is everything, and the human person essentially nothing but a cog in the wheel of State. The individual is but a feeble, paltry, passing thing, fit only to be "ruled" by his betters, who are more intelligent and better educated than he is. The rule by experts is what the Left recommends.

So very true and well said. This is a phrase that bears repeating: "rule by experts".

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for your excellent posts! Truly we need to explore the observer problem in the broad context. It's not just in quantum mechanics, it's in relativity, philosophy and theology.

[RunningWolf]

I see your weather radar, it looks intense.

Take Care,

W.

[jennyp]

im-all-for-placemarkers-but-all-placemarkers-ive-ever-seen-are-offensive PLACEMARKER.

[js1138]

This makes your agenda clear. You are a propagandist, and are using a site that the rest of us are supporting to propel your own sociopathic goals.

This coming from someone who denounces medicine and surgery as the work of Satan.

[js1138]

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=science

http://www.infofocalpoint.com/science.html